Two-time J-Bay Open winner Joel Parkinson has produced a near-perfect ride to advance to the third round at stop No.6 on the World Surf League championship tour.
The Australian traded big scores with New Zealand rookie Ricardo Christie to wow crowds at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, before calling on his experience to delivery the telling blow.
The 34-year-old pulled out several open-face carve manoeuvres before a quick barrel helped deliver his remarkable score of 9.77 - part of a heat score of 18.84 which narrowly shaded Christie's impressive offering of 18.13.
"That's the heat you just dream of at J-Bay," said Parkinson.
Fellow Australian Kai Otton was another standout performer, dispatching Brazil's Jadson Andre in a high-scoring second-round battle before defeating rookie Italo Ferreira in round 3.
Otton's countryman Adam Melling produced a major upset by stunning local hope Jordy Smith in the second round with a pair of seven-point rounds.
It wasn't all good news for the Australians, with world No.6 Taj Burrow knocked out by Brazil's Alejo Munis, sending Burrow home with his worst result of the year.
"Taj Burrow is my favourite surfer ever," Muniz said.
"I've been watching him since I was a little kid. I'm just really happy to make it through this heat, it felt amazing."
Meanwhile, tour leader Adriano de Souza of Brazil defeated local wildcard Slade Prestwich.
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